The ROAD2EU Winter School is an intensive hybrid learning programme hosted by VIZJA University in Warsaw, Poland. It forms the first stage of the ROAD2EU learning pathway and is designed to provide participants with a strong analytical and policy-oriented foundation for understanding how European Union economic, social, and territorial priorities are translated into higher education practice in Poland.
The Winter School focuses on the interpretation of key EU frameworks and instruments, including the European Education Area, the Digital Education Action Plan 2021–2027, Cohesion Policy 2021–2027, and the Territorial Agenda 2030. It helps participants examine how these frameworks relate to institutional strategies, regional development, digital transformation, quality assurance, inclusion, and innovation in higher education institutions.
The programme is organised around three interrelated tracks — Economic, Social, and Territorial — and includes nine interdisciplinary thematic units delivered through lectures and workshops. These thematic units explore such areas as digital EU economic integration, sustainable development and the green economy, social inclusion and EU citizenship, digital education and lifelong learning, health and well-being, regional development, urban–rural synergies, and cross-border cooperation.
The Winter School is intended for BA, MA, and PhD students, higher education staff, local and regional officials, and NGO stakeholders. It combines academic input with practical analytical work. Participants learn how to map institutional priorities against EU objectives, identify policy alignment gaps, use indicators and open data, apply evidence-first approaches in teaching and policy work, and prepare concise APA-referenced policy briefs.
As the conceptual and diagnostic phase of the ROAD2EU educational cycle, the Winter School equips participants with the knowledge, tools, and critical perspective needed to understand EU policy architecture and to connect it meaningfully with higher education reform, digitalisation, and regional engagement. Its learning materials, outputs, and related resources are integrated into the official EUSynergia website, the digital platform of the ROAD2EU project.
Learning Objectives
The ROAD2EU Winter School is designed to help participants develop a structured understanding of how European Union economic, social, and territorial priorities can be interpreted and applied in higher education. The programme enables participants to explore key EU frameworks, analyse their relevance for Polish higher education institutions, and identify practical links between European policies, institutional strategies, digital transformation, inclusion, and regional development.
A central objective of the Winter School is to strengthen participants’ ability to work critically with EU policy documents, indicators, and evidence-based approaches. Participants learn how to map institutional needs against European priorities, recognise policy alignment gaps, and use data, digital tools, and analytical methods to support informed decision-making. The School also promotes skills in academic and policy writing, including the preparation of concise, APA-referenced policy briefs.
In addition, the Winter School supports the development of transferable competences in digital pedagogy, accessibility, ethics, teamwork, and cross-border cooperation. Through its three tracks and nine interdisciplinary thematic units, it prepares participants to move from policy awareness to informed educational and institutional reflection.
Who can participate
The ROAD2EU Winter School is open to a diverse group of participants interested in European policy, higher education, and digital transformation. It is particularly designed for BA, MA, and PhD students, academic and administrative staff of higher education institutions, researchers, local and regional officials, and representatives of NGOs and civil society organisations.
The School is especially relevant for those who wish to better understand how EU priorities can shape institutional development, educational practice, regional cooperation, and socially responsible innovation in higher education. It welcomes participants from interdisciplinary backgrounds and encourages the exchange of perspectives across academic, institutional, and policy environments.
ROAD2EU Official Website 